Times right on immigration editorial; Immigration editorial wrong (Your Views)

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Times right on immigration law

Kudos to The Times for excellent editorial pieces criticizing Alabama's new, mean-spirited immigration law. Unfortunately, that law will be with us until the Alabama Republican Party's stranglehold on our state is broken.

The Republican politicians who wrote and passed it are not concerned about scaring away job-creating foreign investment. They don't care about job creation - except for themselves.

They are not afraid of reviving the image of Alabama as backward and racist. Actually, keeping the people poor and ignorant while encouraging them to blame their very real problems on a minority, are some of the GOP's best tools for holding on to power.

Our entire country is suffering hard times. Both major parties, owned and operated by big corporations (especially in finance) and the super rich, have caused this. We will have to find a way out of this big mess before we can hope to clean up smaller messes like the Alabama Republican Party.

John Thomas Williams

Huntsville, 35801

Immigration editorial wrong

In his Dec. 8 editorial, "A Conversation Overdue" Mike Hollis made unsubstantiated statements and assertions that need a little support.

I don't feel the Alabama immigration law (based on existing U.S. immigration statutes) has damaged Alabama's image as much as some critics have through deliberate exaggeration and incorrect interpretations of such portions as the so-called "good Samaritan" prohibition.

This section has been knowingly and repeatedly distorted to attack the law for political purposes. Such acts of compassion are not prohibited.

What is the basis for the statement about the "national and international condemnation"? Was this from a poll conducted by a reputable, non-biased organization? How many people were polled or made public statements? How many European countries were included in the condemnation?

As far as the "jailed" Mercedes executive, it is a standard practice in Europe to require the possession of passports for many things, including depositing them at hotels where you are staying. It is almost universally required that you possess a recognized driver's license while driving.

Did someone from Europe, China or Japan take offense, or did some competitor of Alabama from another state pull this out of the air.

Come on Times. As Sgt. Joe Friday would say, "just the facts ma'am, just the facts."